OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like New York, NY 10036

New York: median income $95,638, home value $952,900, $1,304/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Irvine, CA 92612 67%2,435$106,226$993,800$750 pricier homes ($41K more) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Los Angeles, CA 90034 66%2,455$105,701$1,516,600$909 pricier homes ($564K more) · larger · younger residents
Los Angeles, CA 90046 66%2,451$96,250$1,515,000$841 pricier homes ($562K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Pasadena, CA 91101 66%2,438$87,813$682,300$636 cheaper homes ($271K less) · more walkable
San Francisco, CA 94103 66%2,566$116,438$1,022,800$857 pricier homes ($70K more) · more walkable · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90025 65%2,457$103,894$1,079,700$699 pricier homes ($127K more) · younger residents · more homeowners
Santa Monica, CA 90401 65%2,460$110,385$1,149,200$1,151 pricier homes ($196K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Cambridge, MA 02141 64%187$126,522$868,100$842 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Santa Monica, CA 90403 64%2,460$121,925$1,548,900$1,021 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($596K more) · more homeowners
Santa Monica, CA 90404 63%2,459$95,139$1,244,400$819 pricier homes ($292K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more walkable
Boston, MA 02111 61%187$87,404$1,033,500$1,037 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller · younger residents
San Diego, CA 92101 60%2,428$91,566$793,100$693 cheaper homes ($160K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 59%2,459$146,167$1,272,200$834 higher income ($51K more) · pricier homes ($319K more) · more homeowners
Glendale, CA 91203 59%2,444$82,364$728,700$615 cheaper homes ($224K less) · smaller
North Hollywood, CA 91601 58%2,449$79,607$1,000,000$637 pricier homes ($47K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
West Hollywood, CA 90069 57%2,452$107,987$1,074,900$814 pricier homes ($122K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
San Diego, CA 92109 57%2,430$122,128$1,226,900$1,117 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($274K more) · younger residents
Boston, MA 02114 56%187$132,210$924,400$1,148 higher income ($37K more) · cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22209 56%208$120,515$820,000$602 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98102 56%2,400$114,925$963,200$617 younger residents · more homeowners · more walkable
San Diego, CA 92103 55%2,428$102,626$1,061,200$755 pricier homes ($108K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90010 54%2,449$101,455$834,100$601 cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller · younger residents
San Diego, CA 92108 54%2,425$103,884$618,700$563 cheaper homes ($334K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98101 54%2,401$128,882$784,200$657 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($169K less) · smaller
Weehawken, NJ 07086 53%2$127,763$889,000$672 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.